Around the World...again and again! Another top in 2.5" strips

After the top I showed on Monday I was determined to use more strips and less background.

Since there are so many similarities between Around the World (ATW) and Granny Squares - well, you could figure out that I really do like the design - both Around the World combined with the idea of bargello.

I decided that it might be the easiest way for me to use more strips in my top - without using a lot of sashing or background fabric.

In order to do this, I had to take several bags of my cut strips and dump them out on the floor so I could dig through them. Yes, I really do have a lot of them! Yes, I want to use them up.

However, I’m going back in time and trying to find some older bags of strips as some of these tend to have the same pieces over and over - and I do want a nice variety. Also, what I’ve noticed with a lot of the Polish fabrics (which is what I have a lot of in the newer bags) is not as many pastel backgrounds, etc. They love to just print on white and I was really looking for pastels to help with the blending.

When I made these individual blocks, I was trying for a COMBO Around the World block and bargello. I tried to make them sort of ‘blend’ or go from light to dark and back again.

When I did them, I also wanted to stop with a darker row 4 strips out. Let me show you - this would allow the corner blocks to show up.

So here I am with my finished top. This one took only 12 large blocks. I made them with an 11x15 layout so they are 22”x30” finished since this is made with 2.5” strips.

This is the layout I was working with. Obviously when I was working on the layout I was just taking colors and plopping them down and not really trying to match reality.

I spent quite a while (relatively speaking) trying to figure out a layout for these blocks. I wanted that bright orange one in the middle. I also embraced the idea of fabrics that had that unusual effect. They are sort of blingy or splotchy. They add zing to the blocks!

This is one of the layouts before I made a final decision.

With the blocks I went up to dark and then back to light and then dark - I made a variety of styles.

Once again with this top, I stayed with the cool, clear colors. I did use yellow, and maybe a couple of the fabrics could also be used in a warm colored quilt, I was aiming to use those clear - not brown-tinged fabrics.

As I looked at these blocks as they were laid out on the floor, I decided to change the center in that blueish one in this photo - top right. The center needs to be either lighter or darker. (I went with white.) I will probably go with a white or almost all white. Whatever I choose, it will be with more contrast than what I had. I’m writing this part of the blog post before that is finished up. But the final top will show what I did.

Interesting thing about this particular design is that there are many different looks. I was trying to stay away from the stripey look, but I did get that as well. I was trying for a more mottled bargello - soft and smooth transition, but frankly, without pulling from my stash (or going through EVEN MORE bags of strips), it was hard to do. So, I did the best I could within reason, and moved on.

Here is a pile - just one of the areas where I was looking for strips. I also have some dumped out on the bed in the guest room (fabric storage room). Tuq decided it was a good place to sleep in this pile on the floor in my dining room.

Overall, I’m very pleased. Each one of these little rectangles reminds me of a little rug - like Aladdin’s flying carpet. I’m not sure why. I have NO idea why that is in fact. Maybe I should go back and watch Disney’s Aladdin or read the children’s book and see if any pictures of the flying carpet are in an Around The World design.

This top, as finished is 101”x106”. I used a bit wider border on the top and bottom than on the sides.

My husband’s reaction is that “WOW, it’s bright” He said it is almost glow in the dark!

So there you go - I used all strips from my bags in this top - except for the sashing and borders. I did pull from the bookcases of fabric for those.

Thanks so much for coming along with me on this journey!

Have a great day wherever you are reading this!

Becky Petersen10 Comments